Chain fastener



June 5, 1928. 1,672,078

T. NEGLER CHAIN FASTENER Filed April 21, 1927 reference characters designate Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES TEN? OFFI E.

- THEOPHiL EG' ER, or MILWAUKEE, wiscoivsmt errant FASTENER.

I Application-filed April 21, 1927. Serial No. 185,590.

The present invention relates to improvements in fastening devices,-and has reference more particularly to anieans for connecting the end links of a chain. I

One of the important objects invention is to provide a chain fastener, which is of such construction, as to be readily and easily operable in connecting the ends of a chaintogether, and which device will further take up slack, which-may occur in the chain.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a chain fastener of'the above mentioned character, which is of such con-' struction'as to pr'eventthe locking lever of the fastener becoming accidentally disengaged from its locking posit-ion, the locking 'leveiv being further. of such construction asto permit the same to be readily and easily actuated for either opening or closing the fastener.

' A further object is] to provide a chain fastener of the above mentioned character, which is simple'in construction, strong and durable, and further well adapted to .the

purpose for which it is designed. I f f Qther objects and advantages of vention will become apparent-during the course of' the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this application and in which like like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the fastener embodyin my invention showing thesame in its locked position. i I

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the locking lever in the'act'of being moved to a locking position, and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. 1n the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred Gl11--- bodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally my improved chain fastener,.the same comprising the channel shaped'body 2 which is formed of sheet metal. The ends of the channel shaped body are slightly rounded, asclearly shown.

in Figures 1 and 2, as is also the upper corner of the side. A pivot forming rivet 3 extends through the intermediate portions of the sides of the channel shaped body 2, adjacent the forward end thereof and as is clearly shown in Figure 3, the rivet is of such length as to connect the looped free of theprescnt,

the inends 4: of one end link 5 of a chain 6, to be disposed around the shank of the rivet between the outer faces of the respective sides and the adjacent heads of the rivet. This will provide a pivot-a1 connection between the forward'end of the channel shapedbody 2 and one end link of the chain 6.

Also forming an important part of the Thepurpose of arranging 'the pivot for the lever at a point above the pivot forone 'ofthe. end links of the chain is to provide a-inea is whereby the locking lever, willbe maintained in ,a 5 locking position even though the free, end thereof should become accidentally disengaged from the forward end portion of thebody.

The upper edges of the sides of thechannel' shapedbody2 are cut away intermediate the pivotal connections between the body and'the end" link 5 and the lever 7 respectiV 1y7 hereby to provide an enlargednlink receiving pocket 9. The sides of the cut out portion are curved as clearlyshown in Figure 2.' The sides of the channel shaped body are further formed with inwardly projecting protuberances at the forward upper end, thereof as clearly shown at 10 with reference inoreparticularly to Figure. 3, and the purpose of thisconsti'uction will be hereinafter more fully described.

The free end of the lever 7 is formed with a thumb engaging portion 11, whereby'said lever maybe readily and easily actuated. Furthermore, the. inner edge of the lever 7 is curved as illustrated at 12 and this curvature of :thelever will provide a means whereby the other end link 13 of the chain 6 may freely slide along the lever. The lever is further formed with a pair of opposed re'versely curved lugs 14 and 15 respectively at its inner edge and as isclearly shown in Figure 2, the lug 15 projects beyond the outer end of the lug 14. These lugs cooperate to form a relatively small link receiving pocket 16, and the lug 14 is so curved as to permit the free end of the end v posed over tliefree end of the locking lever 7 when the latter is in the position shown in Figure 2, said link, will, by gravity, slide downwardly on the lever and will enter the The thumb engaging portion 11' pocket 16. is then grasped and the lever is swung forwardly between the sides of the channel shaped body and when the lever is disposed within the body in the manner as shown in Figure 1, the end link 13 will be disposed within the link receiving pocket 9 formed in the body and the intermediate portion of the lever will form a closure for the pocket- 9. Furthermore, the free end portion of the locking lever will be disposed between the forward end portions of the sides of, the channel body and the inner edge of this porwhile the thumb engaging portion projects beyond the forward end of the body and through theother end link 5,

F or the purposeoffurther locking the lever against accidental displacement from within the body 2, the portion of the lever which is adapted for-disposition between the forward end portions of the sides is provided with indentations such as are shown at 17 ,intlie respective sides thereof and the protuberances engage with these indentations in a manner as clearly shown in Figure 3. i i The provision of a chain fastener of the above mentioned character will not only secure the free ends of a chain together, but will also take up any, slack which may occur in the chains. Furthermore, the locking lever will permit the ends of the chain to be secured together, even though the chain may be readily short, as frequently is the case. The simplicity of my device enables the parts to be readily and easily actuated for closing or opening the fastener and when the parts aredisposed in a closedposition, the locking lever will not be apt to become accidentally disengaged from its locking position. Also, a chain fastener of the above mentionedcharacter may be manufacturedat a very low cost and the same will be further strong and durable.

Vhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention orthe scope of theappended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: i

The combination'with the end links of a chain, a chain fastenercomprising a channel shaped body, a pivot pini extending through the sides of the body at the forward end thereof and through one of said end links, a locking lever pivoted at its inner end between the sidesof the channel shaped body at the rear end thereof and at a point above the pivotal connection between the forward end of the body and the aforemen-v tioned end link, the intermediate portions of being curved, a pair of reversely curved lugs projecting from the inner "edge'of the lever at the pivot-ed inner end thereof, to provide a relatively small pocket to, receive the other end link which is slidable over'the sides of the body, the intermediate portion of the lever forming the closure for the outer open side of the pocket formed in the body, the free end of the lever projecting beyond the forward end of the body, and cooperating means between the forward por tion of the sides of the body and the adjacent portion of the lever for securing said lever against displacement from between the sides of the channel shaped body. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature THEOPHIL NEGLER. 

